The coroner summed up at some length. He touched on the possibility of suicide, and rather belittled it. He directed the jury discreetly towards the verdict which, after an absence of twenty minutes, they ultimately returned—a verdict of murder against some person or persons unknown. As he left the court Nigel found himself walking behind Alleyn, and immediately in front of Janet Emerald and Saint. He was about to join the inspector when Miss Emerald pushed past him, and seized Alleyn by the arm.

"Inspector Alleyn," she said.

Alleyn stopped and looked at her.

"You were behind that." She spoke quietly enough, but with a kind of suppressed violence. "You told that man to treat me as he did. Why was I singled out to be insulted and suspected? Why was Felix Gardener let off so lightly? Why isn't he arrested? He shot Arthur. It's infamous." Her voice rose hysterically. Several people who had passed them stopped and looked back.

"Janet," said Saint hurriedly, "are you mad? Come away."

She turned and stared at him, burst into a passion of the most hair-raising sobs, and allowed herself to be led off.

Alleyn looked after her thoughtfully.

"Not mad, Mr. Saint," he murmured. "No. I don't think the Emerald is mad. Shall we say venomous to the point of foolhardiness?"

He followed them out into the street, without noticing Nigel.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Sloane Street to the Yard

NIGEL SPENT THE AFTERNOON in writing up his report of the inquest. He was greatly intrigued by the vast amount of information that had not come out. The coroner had skated nimbly over the Jacob Saint libel action, had made no comment at all on Surbonadier's state of intoxication, and had walked like Aga in and out of Stephanie Vaughan's dressing-room. The jury, an unusually docile one, had apparently felt no urge to ask independent questions. Their foreman, like the Elephant's Child, had the air of saying "this is too buch for be." Nigel imagined that, in their brief retirement, they had discussed the possibility of suicide, decided it wouldn't wash, and agreed that the whole thing was too complex for any decision but the usual one, which they had given. He had sensed Alleyn's extreme satisfaction; and now, once more, revised his own view of the case.